Dame Liz Forgan, chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), has announced that £15.7m of earmarked funding will be provided for heritage projects across the UK “to help preserve, restore and revitalise our heritage for the benefit of future generations.”

No. 1 Smithery – at The Historic Dockyard Chatham in Thames Gateway Kent – will receive almost £5m towards its £14m transformation into an exhibition centre.

The facility – due to open in 2010 – will display national collections from the Imperial War Museum, National Maritime Museum and National Museum of Science and Industry.

Collections of fine and decorative arts will be also displayed to the public for the first time at Bowes Museum at Barnard Castle in County Durham following its receipt of £3.3m.

The museum will benefit from new galleries – including a metalware and precious objects display – flexible learning spaces and a library.

In addition, the country’s oldest surviving purpose-built youth club, the Florence Institute – or The Florrie as it is known locally – in Toxteth near Liverpool will receive £3.9m towards its £5.5m revamp. The building will be converted into a flexible community facility for the residents of the economically deprived area.

The 18th century Antrim Castle Gardens in Northern Ireland has also been given the green light for a £3.5m revamp of its historic buildings and gardens. This is one of the largest ever grants for the region. Details: www.hlf.org.uk

Photograph: No. 1 Smithery